I serve as director of SANRUE, the Penn State/Rodale Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources in Urbanizing Environments.

My major research interest is the control of plant disease through low-cost and environmentally safe systems of agricultural production. Rising world populations make it imperative that we produce food and fiber more efficiently and safely than ever before. If U.S. agriculture is to supply world markets in the 21st century, we must increase our food-and-fiber production capability without degrading our environment.

Losses induced by plant pathogens affect every aspect of agriculture and forestry, including agronomic and horticultural crops, forests, wild lands, and landscape and ornamental plants. Damage occurs at all stages, from seeds to harvested crops. Reliance on fungicides for control of many fruit or vegetable diseases must be reduced.

Cultural practices that modify crop ecosystems to promote healthy plants while suppressing pathogen development need to be reexamined in light of current knowledge. If we are to produce more food and fiber while maintaining a quality environment, we must gain a far greater understanding of host/pathogen ecosystems and how to manage them to produce healthy plants.